There are those among us in the working world (this author included) who would rather die than be late for anything. In fact, it’s so bad that the earlier I can be sometimes, the better. Of course, this is not recommended behavior and, is just as problematic in its own way as being chronically late.
Anyway, when you are coming to work or involved in business affairs, to be late reflects badly and is a classic faux pas no-no. Just consider why someone should trust you with an account or any other type of job situation if you don’t have your wits about you enough to even keep an appointment.
Apart from being annoying and inconsiderate, lateness makes one wonder what one earth were you doing that you couldn’t make this lunch on time. Besides, the very least you can do if you are going to be unavoidably late, is to call the person who is waiting for you and tell them so. Unfortunately, for many of us unavoidable lateness is usually synonymous with unexpected maiming or death. Unless you are in a terrorist type of situation, there is always the phone, and to call is the very least you can do to save whatever remains of your business soul.
If you are chronically late in your personal life as well, there’s little I can say that will change things for you. In the words of Dr. Phil McGraw, what’s the payoff for your behavior? I know that my “payoff” for being early is the neurotic satisfaction that since no one will wait for me anyway, I will beat them there. In the case of someone who is always late, perhaps the payoff has to do with hostility. A famous doctor once said, “If you are early you are anxious, if you are on time you are compulsive, and if you are late, you are hostile.”
My friends, how can anyone win at this game? Perhaps the idea is just to keep playing, which is fine. Remember to call if you can’t find the stadium.
Related Reading:
“What Are Hard and Soft Skills?”
“A Good Work Ethic: How Will It Help?”
http://forums.families.com/jobs,f122